Helping hand – Suarez's reputation as a pantomime villain dates back to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The striker used his hand to block a goal-bound shot in the last minute of extra-time in a quarterfinal tie between Uruguay and Ghana. Suarez was given a red card and Ghana were awarded a penalty. But Asamoah Gyan missed the spot kick and Uruguay won the resulting penalty shootout to reach the semifinals, breaking African hearts in the process. Suarez also has previous when it comes to biting opponents, after he bit PSV's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in November 2010. He was given a seven-match ban.

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Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Cantona's karate kick – Manchester United's Eric Cantona suffered a moment of madness during an EPL match at Crystal Palace in January 1995. Cantona had been given a red card for kicking an opponent and, while making his exit from the pitch, the Frenchman jumped over the advertising boards and aimed a scissor kick at a fan who he claimed was shouting insults at him. Cantona was banned for nine months and also served 120 hours community service.

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Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Paolo's push – Paolo Di Canio has often courted controversy during his career. The Italian, who recently faced allegations of holding fascist views following his appointment as Sunderland manager, pushed referee Paul Alcock to the floor during a match against Arsenal in September 1998. Di Canio was given a red card and suspended for 11 games.

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Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

It is not just acts of violence which can make players unpopular. Brazil's Rivaldo was criticized, and ridiculed, following a group stage match against Turkey at the 2002 World Cup. Rivaldo went to the floor claiming Hakan Unsal had kicked the ball into his face, despite replays showing it had clearly hit him in the leg. Unsal was given a second yellow card and sent off, while Brazil went on to win the match 2-1. FIFA retrospectively punished Rivaldo with a fine, but the playmaker had the last laugh as Brazil went on to lift football's biggest prize for a record fifth time.

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Pinto's punch – Portugal's Joao Pinto drew criticism during the 2002 World Cup after punching a referee in the stomach. Pinto, who had been given a red card during the match against tournament co-hosts South Korea, was suspended for six months by football's global governing body FIFA.

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Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Zizou's outburst – Zinedine Zidane. a world and European champion and a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, ended his career in infamy at the 2006 World Cup. With the scores level at 1-1 in the final between France and Italy, the playmaker headbutted Italy's Marco Materazzi and was given a straight red card. France went on to lose the match on penalties and Zidane never played again. Materazzi later admitted to provoking Zidane by making remarks about his mother and sister.

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Pepe's punishment – Real Madrid defender Pepe has a notoriously short fuse. The Portuguese star was handed a 10-match ban in April 2009 for violent conduct, after kicking Getafe's Javi Casquero in the back while he lay on the floor. Moments before, Pepe had brought down Casquero to concede a penalty.

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Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Axel's assault – Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel was banned for eight matches after breaking Marcin Wasilewski's leg while played for Standard Liege against FC Brussels in 2009. Witsel has since joined Russia's Zenit St Petersburg.

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Valentin's vile lunge – Valentin Eysseric, who plays for French club Nice, was hit with an 11-match suspension following last month's match against Saint Etienne. The midfielder broke Jeremy Clement's leg and shattered several ankle ligaments following a shin-high tackle. Saint Etienne's fans have since displayed a banner saying "Support Clement" during their matches.

Story highlights

The incident occurred during last Sunday's 2-2 drew between the two teams at Anfield

Suarez was given a seven-match ban for biting while playing for Ajax in 2010

British Prime Minister David Cameron had called for tough action

As British Prime Minister David Cameron called on footballers to act as role models, Liverpool's Luis Suarez chose not to appeal his 10-match "biting" ban handed to him by the English Football Association for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.

Earlier this week the Uruguayan striker was hit with the sanction by the English Football Association for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic following the ruling of an Independent Regulatory Commission.

The ban's severity sparked fierce criticism from the Liverpool hierarchy.

The ban will start with immediate effect, meaning Suarez will play no part in Liverpool's four remaining Premier League matches with the Uruguayan also ruled out for the start of next season.

"Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has not appealed the suspension issued to him by an Independent Regulatory Commission this week," read an FA statement released on Friday.

Helping hand – Suarez's reputation as a pantomime villain dates back to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The striker used his hand to block a goal-bound shot in the last minute of extra-time in a quarterfinal tie between Uruguay and Ghana. Suarez was given a red card and Ghana were awarded a penalty. But Asamoah Gyan missed the spot kick and Uruguay won the resulting penalty shootout to reach the semifinals, breaking African hearts in the process. Suarez also has previous when it comes to biting opponents, after he bit PSV's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in November 2010. He was given a seven-match ban.

Hide Caption

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Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Cantona's karate kick – Manchester United's Eric Cantona suffered a moment of madness during an EPL match at Crystal Palace in January 1995. Cantona had been given a red card for kicking an opponent and, while making his exit from the pitch, the Frenchman jumped over the advertising boards and aimed a scissor kick at a fan who he claimed was shouting insults at him. Cantona was banned for nine months and also served 120 hours community service.

Hide Caption

3 of 10

Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Paolo's push – Paolo Di Canio has often courted controversy during his career. The Italian, who recently faced allegations of holding fascist views following his appointment as Sunderland manager, pushed referee Paul Alcock to the floor during a match against Arsenal in September 1998. Di Canio was given a red card and suspended for 11 games.

Hide Caption

4 of 10

Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

It is not just acts of violence which can make players unpopular. Brazil's Rivaldo was criticized, and ridiculed, following a group stage match against Turkey at the 2002 World Cup. Rivaldo went to the floor claiming Hakan Unsal had kicked the ball into his face, despite replays showing it had clearly hit him in the leg. Unsal was given a second yellow card and sent off, while Brazil went on to win the match 2-1. FIFA retrospectively punished Rivaldo with a fine, but the playmaker had the last laugh as Brazil went on to lift football's biggest prize for a record fifth time.

Hide Caption

5 of 10

Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Pinto's punch – Portugal's Joao Pinto drew criticism during the 2002 World Cup after punching a referee in the stomach. Pinto, who had been given a red card during the match against tournament co-hosts South Korea, was suspended for six months by football's global governing body FIFA.

Hide Caption

6 of 10

Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Zizou's outburst – Zinedine Zidane. a world and European champion and a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, ended his career in infamy at the 2006 World Cup. With the scores level at 1-1 in the final between France and Italy, the playmaker headbutted Italy's Marco Materazzi and was given a straight red card. France went on to lose the match on penalties and Zidane never played again. Materazzi later admitted to provoking Zidane by making remarks about his mother and sister.

Hide Caption

7 of 10

Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Pepe's punishment – Real Madrid defender Pepe has a notoriously short fuse. The Portuguese star was handed a 10-match ban in April 2009 for violent conduct, after kicking Getafe's Javi Casquero in the back while he lay on the floor. Moments before, Pepe had brought down Casquero to concede a penalty.

Hide Caption

8 of 10

Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Axel's assault – Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel was banned for eight matches after breaking Marcin Wasilewski's leg while played for Standard Liege against FC Brussels in 2009. Witsel has since joined Russia's Zenit St Petersburg.

Hide Caption

9 of 10

Photos:Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly

Valentin's vile lunge – Valentin Eysseric, who plays for French club Nice, was hit with an 11-match suspension following last month's match against Saint Etienne. The midfielder broke Jeremy Clement's leg and shattered several ankle ligaments following a shin-high tackle. Saint Etienne's fans have since displayed a banner saying "Support Clement" during their matches.

Hide Caption

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Photos:Suarez biting controversy

Photos:Suarez biting controversy

Suarez biting controversy – Liverpool striker Luis Suarez (R) clashes with Branislav Ivanovic after appearing to bite the Chelsea player in the second half of Sunday's 2-2 draw.

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Photos:Suarez biting controversy

Suarez biting controversy – Suarez then laughingly pats Ivanovic on the head after the Serbian complains to referee Kevin Friend.

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Photos:Suarez biting controversy

Suarez biting controversy – Suarez grappled with Ivanovic before sinking his teeth into his arm.

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Suarez biting controversy – Ivanovic earlier had words with Suarez as they walked off at halftime during the English Premier League match at Anfield.

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Suarez biting controversy – Suarez gave Chelsea the lead for the second time when he handled the ball in his penalty area, allowing Eden Hazard to score from the spot. However, he was celebrating after his equalizer almost seven minutes into time added on.

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Photos:Suarez biting controversy

Suarez biting controversy – The Chelsea players were furious that Suarez was still on the pitch after his bite on Ivanovic.

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"The FA intends to publicize the Independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons in due course."

Suarez issued a statement of contrition via his personal website where he once again apologized for his actions.

"I know that all the things that are happening to me in England will help me to improve my conduct on the field," said the 26-year-old, who could still yet win the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award, after an outstanding season for Liverpool.

"Whilst 10 games is clearly greater than those bans given in past cases where player have actually been seriously injured, I acknowledge that my actions were not acceptable on the football pitch so I do not want to give the wrong impression to people by making an appeal.

"I really want to learn from what has happened in the last two-and-a-half years, many things have been said and written about me, I just tried to do my best on the field."

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"He will be missed for the remainder of this season and the early part of next, but we will have the opportunity to welcome a better person and player when he returns."

Rodgers had earlier sprang to Suarez's defense, suggesting the player had been unfairly targeted and that he would understand if he felt he needed to leave English football.

"This is a guy who I see on a daily basis trying very hard. His two passions in life are his family and Liverpool Football Club," the Northern Irish coach told a press conference ahead of Saturday's match against Newcastle United.

"He loves this country and being here. If I'm Luis Suarez sitting at home with my wife and family, who absolutely love it here -- they love life in Liverpool and learning the language -- it's arguable he will never have a better season than he has had this.

"Yet he has still come under this scrutiny and criticism.

"That will make you think, no question. But in a couple of days' time when he is more reflective, because there is a shock and anger at the moment, a sense of reality will set in."

For a second time this week, Cameron weighed in on the debate over Suarez's bite on Friday.

"As a dad and as a human being, do I think we should have tough penalties when football players behave like this? Yes," the British Prime Minister told BBC Radio 5 Live.

This is not the first time the Uruguayan striker has been sanctioned for a bite.

Suarez was handed a seven-match ban by Dutch football authorities in 2010 for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakal while playing for Ajax.

Last season he was hit with an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.